KC-135's get Block 45 Upgrade-to continue flying to 2040!

As Robin Williams once told me at a USO show, "the big boob in the sky" is getting an upgrade to keep it flying for another 30 years or so with
it's block 45 upgrade. This upgrade will incorporate a new upgraded instrument panel, including a new LCD display, getting rid of the old analog
dials and keeping maintenece costs from skyrocketing by streamlining the maintenence, and taking 10 different systems and incorporating them into one
brain.

This KC-135 features Block 45 upgrades which are designed to modernize the decades-old aircraft and improve its life expectancy. "The goal is to
keep the planes non-obsolete, relevant and legal to fly," said Maj. Chris Brockman, 22nd Operations Support Squadron operations support training
deputy chief. "We're trying to future-proof these planes." The upgrades include a liquid crystal display screen in the cockpit in place of older
gauges on the instrumentation panel and a new autopilot function. The gauges used in current KC-135s are becoming more difficult to find and too
expensive to purchase, said Brockman. The switch from analog gauges to a digital display will also affect aircraft maintenance and repairs. "As far
as maintenance is concerned, the change to analog makes my job easier," said Tech. Sgt. King Sanders, 22nd Air Maintenance Squadron instruments
flight controls lead technician. "It also replaces close to 10 other systems with one central computer."

Nice that they are finally getting the glass cockpit upgrade, but it's really sad that they have to keep flying that long. It's ridiculous that the
KC-135 and B-52 will be approaching 100 by the time they retire.

Because of the fact that these tools are becoming obsolete, and even with the upgrades, difficult to maintain. The B-52 is a missile truck now, and
that's about all it's good for. It can't penetrate modern defenses, but it's still the backbone of the bomber fleet in terms of numbers and
reliability. Why have a bunch of tools that can't do the job nearly as well as new ones could, or that are expensive to keep in your toolbox when
newer tools are more flexible and cheaper.

Since the initial KC-135 PDM contract award in October 1998, Boeing’s team has completed scheduled and unscheduled maintenance on more than 160
aircraft. Along the way, they have reduced the number of days the aircraft are out of service for maintenance by 19%, and cut costs by 15% per
aircraft.

the air force HAS retired (or is retiring) it's oldest KC-135's - but it has a sizeable fleet that has plenty of service life left on the airframe
and which is cheaper to maintain than buying new a/c.

No doubt the 135 fleet will all be retired in due course - but there is no need to waste money doing so before necessary!

All of the military tech that is exposed to the public on a regular basis is "old" compared to what the military consider "current" in their
technology stream... The day the B-2 Bomber was unveiled was them saying "Hey people this is our latest piece of high-tech,...( from 30 years
ago")...LOL!... All military hardware that is shown to the public is essentially moth-balled...

Cost for one. The B-52 fleet is even older than the tanker fleet, minus some of the upgrades. They're going to get more and more expensive to
maintain, just as the tankers will too. Even with upgrades the aircraft will require more and more maintenance. Eventually age will catch up to them,
whether they have airframe life left or not. It's already starting to, even with the younger aircraft. Several of the upgrades also ended up causing
more trouble then they were worth (the digital fuel management system for one, Jesus that was a pain in the ass).

It isn't just cost though, that's just the biggest factor. There's ease of maintenance, availability of spares, ability to carry out the
mission.... When the R model first came on scene we would launch at 210,000 lbs, with a 110 offload. Within a few years due to having to change the
flight profile, we were limited to about a 185 loadout with an 85 offload. The new engines relegated a slower climb and shallower climb angle due to
the strain on the airframe among other factors.

you know, when the KC 135 is finally retired I think they could convert them nicely to roles as fire planes on forest fires. they just have to install
sealed belly doors. the things already have bad ass tanks inside of them. Even if it does get forced into an early retirement I think itll still get
used for a long time.

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